Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire

Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire
Production information
Developer(s)	ILMxLAB
Publisher(s)	ILMxLAB
Release date	December 16, 2017 (Orlando) January 5, 2018 (Anaheim) December 16, 2017 (London)
Date closed	June 19, 2018 (London) March, 2020 (Orlando and Anaheim)
Platform(s)	The VOID
Attribution information
Designer(s)	ILMxLAB Curtis Hickman
Chronological information
Timeline	1 BBY

Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire is a virtual reality experience created by ILMxLAB and written by David S. Goyer and Tracy Hickman for location-based VR company The VOID. It opened on December 16, 2017 in Orlando and January 5, 2018 in Anaheim. It was also given a limited 12-week release in London on the same day as its Orlando release. The London experience was later extended another twelve weeks and closed on June 19 instead of the planned closing date of March 10. The experience closed permanently at the Orlando and Anaheim locations in March of 2020.

The experience puts guests in the boots of Rebel operatives who must infiltrate an Imperial facility on Mustafar while disguised as Stormtroopers.

Story

An urgent message from Captain Cassian Andor informs four Rebel operatives that they need to take his place on a mission to Mustafar to steal a powerful weapon from the Galactic Empire. Disguising themselves as Stormtroopers, the operatives land on the planet's surface with the help of K-2SO.

The experience lasts over the duration of the mission as they infiltrate an Imperial facility in search of the weapon.

Plot

When guests first enter the briefing room, they meet Captain Cassian Andor via a video transmission. He informs them that he has discovered that a weapon of great power is being held by the Empire on a base on Mustafar. He cannot personally go in search of it because his position has been compromised, so he sends the four guests — taking on the role of Rebel operatives — in his place.

Guests then enter an Imperial transport, joined by K-2SO and the ship's pilot, Athex. The team proceeds to Mustafar through hyperspace. The Imperial base is not happy to learn of the ship's arrival, and demands the ship land for inspection.

After infiltrating the base with the aid of a hover platform, the four Rebels find a rack of blasters, only to have their presence detected. After escaping the facility, the Rebels are trapped outside, where they have to contend with attacking Stormtroopers and hostile beasts from the planet's surface.

Eventually they're able to find their way back into the facility, and discover the weapon mentioned by Captain Andor: an ancient lightsaber of unknown origin. The Rebels are then ambushed by even more Imperial troops, but thanks to some quick action taken by K-2SO they are able to escape with their lives, and make the jump to hyperspace.

Gameplay

The players are first met in a small room which holds a screen and provides the mission briefing. Then are then directed to a bay where they strap on a VR headset and backpack.

Guests all appear as Stormtroopers, with individually colored Pauldrons and hand armor. The experience tracks guests' individual fingers without the need for external controllers. The blasters that guests interact with have two triggers, but only the main trigger is used during the experience.

The VOID platform utilizes physical sets, locations, and objects that map directly to the digital environments that guests see in their headsets — so if there is a wall, guests can touch it, and if they see a chair, they can actually sit down in it. In addition, The VOID incorporates sensory feedback like haptic vibrations, smell, and heat to bring the virtual environments and characters to life.

Credits

By type

Cast

Uncredited cast

Crew

Uncredited crew

Special thanks

Cast

Diego Luna as Captain Cassian Andor Alan Tudyk as K-2SO Sam Witwer as Athex

Crew

Written by David S. Goyer Written by Tracy Hickman Directed by Curtis Hickman The VOID Aaron Murry Aaron Sorensen Abel Perry Alan Curtis Allen Williams Amir Zarrin Ammon Loveless Ana Kravitz Andrew Carroll Andrew Darrow Andrew Nicholas Andrew Swan Anthony Rascon Ben Hale Bill Welsh Brad Ritchie Bram Howard Brandon Burgon Brett Rieder Brighton Gardiner Brooke Chapman Bryant Bishop Camille Fryar-Ludwig Carl Moore Clay Talley Cliff Kelley Cliff Plumer Clint Vanderlinden Corey Goldstein Cory Clawson Craig Watson Curtis Hickman Dale Deputy Dan Adams Dan Haring Dan Mitton Dan Pri8estly Darin Warren Dave Morra Dave Walker David Layne David Wehle CD Cox Demetrius Hamilton Drew Garbe Dustin Hansen Dustin Powell Elissa Van Marter Emilio Martinez Eric Corona Eric Davis Eric Davis (Snow) Ferrell Edwards Garrett Roberts Geoff Blotter Jace St. John Jade Grimmius James Andrus James Jensen Jamey Martinez Jared Gerlach Jason Howard Jason Kelley Jeff Meacham Jeff Ruggles Jesse Richins Jessica Cooper Joe Bourrie Joe Dean Joel Jones John Kirkpatrick Jonas Smuikaitis Jonathan Geddes Jonathan Stephens Jonathan Warner Jordan Jensen Josh Doud Josh Vandermeyden Joshua Healey JR Kummer Jude Zwahlen Kamron Egan Karen Ayyagari kari St John Karson Fitzgerald Kathy Rott Kelly Mondragon Ken Bretschneider Kevin Kellm Kevin Saffel Kimberly Garcia Kirsten Manley Landon Christensen Lauren Jury Loren Anderson Lorrain Tobias Marc Yates Margy Bloom Mark Owen Marli Corbett Mason Le Cheminant Matt Asanuma Matt Peterson Michael Malone Mike Jones Mikelle Cox Miles Woods Nathan Gale Neema Rezaee Nick Lloyd Nicole McMillan Oscar De Anda Pablo Poffald Pace Sims Paurl Gerla Paul Metcalfe Quin Farmer Rachel McCauley Reina Elizondo Rex Stocking Rich Rogers Roman Smart Ryan Behshad Ryan Craig Ryan Petrie Ryan Reynolds Sam Curnow Samuel Gless Sandra Witzen Sarah Marsh Scott Wilson Sean Forsgren Sean Griffin Set Hippen Shawn LeFevre Skye Bye Spencer Jensen Steve Duckworth Taylor Stewart Tiffany Lyon Tracy Hickman West Buswell

Appearances

By type

Characters	Organisms	Droid models	Events	Locations
Organizations and titles	Sentient species	Vehicles and vessels	Weapons and technology	Miscellanea

Characters

Cassian Jeron Andor Athex (First appearance) C2-B5 K-2SO Darth Vader

Droid models

Astromech droid Fourth class droid Security droid KX-series security droid Probe droid

Events

Imperial Era Galactic Civil War Mission to Mustafar (First appearance)

Locations

Outer Rim Territories Atravis sector Mustafar system Mustafar Gahenn Plains Fortress Vader Imperial base (First appearance)

Organizations and titles

Alliance to Restore the Republic Rebel Alliance Intelligence Service Fulcrum Intelligence officer Galactic Empire Imperial Military Imperial Army Stormtrooper Corps Stormtrooper Imperial Navy Imperial Starfighter Corps Imperial Transport Pilot (First appearance) Officer Pilot Sith Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sith apprentice Sith Lord Skywalker family Spy

Sentient species

Human Cyborg Kenari

Vehicles and vessels

Repulsorcraft Skiff Starship Shuttle Abecederian line Lambda-class T-4a shuttle Starfighter TIE fighter series TIE Advanced x1

Weapons and technology

Armor Stormtrooper armor Darth Vader's armor Blaster Blaster rifle E-11 medium blaster rifle Cybernetics Mechno-arm Droid Lightsaber Proto-saber (First appearance) Sith lightsaber Dual-phase lightsaber Darth Vader's lightsaber Turbolaser

Miscellanea

Clothing Cape Fortress Magma Planet

Sources

• Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire Hyper-Reality Experience Coming This Holiday Season on StarWars.com (backup link)
• The Star Wars Show: New The Last Jedi Images, The Star Wars Show Goes Hollywood, Lost Lucasfilm Loot, & More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire – ILMxLAB and The VOID – Immersive Entertainment Experience on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• ILMxLAB and The VOID's Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire Trailer and Details Revealed on StarWars.com (backup link)
• The Star Wars Show: The Latest on The Last Jedi, Thrawn: Alliances Cover Revealed, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• 5 Reasons You'll Love Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Making Magic with Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire on StarWars.com (backup link)
• The Star Wars Show: Inside Secrets of the Empire with David S. Goyer, the New runDisney Dark Side Medals, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• The Star Wars Show: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Coming to SDCC, Comedian Paul F. Tompkins, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• In Secrets of the Empire, You're Now a Wanted Rebel on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection
• This Week! in Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi Returns, Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)

Notes and references

In other languages

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